Google Talk Gadget — We're thrilled to be launching a new way to use Google Talk today. The Google Talk Gadget is a web-based module that you can add to your Google Personalized Homepage, letting you see your friends and chat with them — all on your homepage.

GoogleTalk Gadget Added to Personal Pages — Google just announced integration of their instant messaging service, Google Talk, with Google IG, their personalized home page. The flash-based widget plugs into your Google Personal Home Page as an integrated buddy list and IM window.

Taking steps to further improve our privacy practices — Posted by Peter Fleischer, Privacy Counsel-Europe, and Nicole Wong, Deputy General Counsel — When you search on Google, we collect information about your search, such as the query itself, IP addresses and cookie details.

One Number That Will Ring All Your Phones — If you have only one telephone with one phone number, this column won't be of any interest to you. Skip to another article, you eccentric you. — But first, count your blessings. Millions of people have more than one phone number these days …

Microsoft to Acquire Tellme Networks — Combined expertise will bring the power of voice technology to everyday life. — Microsoft Corp. today announced it will acquire Tellme Networks, Inc., a leading provider of voice services for everyday life, including nationwide directory assistance …

Citizen Journalism Wants You! — Welcome to Assignment Zero. It's pro-am journalism in the open style made possible by the web. This is a collaboration among NewAssignment.Net, Wired and those who choose to participate. — I hope you will. Because we're trying to figure something out here.

The future of Twitter? — I was introduced to Twitter last summer at a dinner at Henrietta's Table in Cambridge by Ross Mayfield. I posted two or three notes using my Blackberry that evening and never did it again. I still receive SMS's from Ross on a regular basis, but …

Salim Ismail To Head Yahoo Brickhouse — Yahoo Brickhouse, a new semi-autonomous business unit to foster new product development, is yet to be formally launched. They've been busy, though. Yahoo Pipes, which launched on February 7, is a Brickhouse project.

BREAKING: No unified gamer tags or codes for Wii online — There will not be unified gamer tags or codes for Wii online games. Users will have to register with each title separately, as is already the case with the DS and the Wii's first online title, 'Pokemon Battle Revolution'.

Red Hat Launches Open-Source Exchange — The software company is unveiling an online marketplace for open-source developers—where Red Hat can sell support, and links to its own products — Ever since its launch in 1993, Red Hat (RHAT) has kept a laser-like focus on one thing …

Microsoft hits 'cybersquatters' — Microsoft is pursuing five alleged UK-based cybersquatters in its battle against firms and individuals who have registered variations or misspellings of its key brands, such as Xbox. — It is already pursuing hundreds of lawsuits in the US and is now keen to extend its reach in Europe.

Buzznet and iMeem: Fast Growing Social Networks — Today's press release from Hitwise lists the top 20 social networking sites for February 2007, and discusses growing sites. Here are some key points: — The market share of visits to the custom category of the top 20 social networking sites increased …